Automatic cut-out for rain-spouts



APPLICATION FILED FB. 5. 1917- Patented Aug. 5, 1919. I

'rlm collumnm PLANUGRM'II c0., WASHINGTON, I). c.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. EItTEL, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT FOR RAIN-SPOUTS Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application filed February 5. 1917. Serial No. 146.592.

Automatic Cut-Outs for Rain-spouts, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic out-outs for rainspouts and the object thereof is to provide means for automaticallydirecting rain water as it passes from the down-spout into the cisternafter the first waters of the rain have washed the roof and passed intothe sewer, and also to so construct the device that after the waterceases to flow, it will reassume its initial position for directing thewater of the next subsequent rain into the sewer as it flows from thedown-spout.

The purpose of the device is to prevent accumulations of dirt andforeign matter that form on the roof and in the eaves-troughs from beingcarried with the preoipitations of moisture of the air into the cistern,and to effect automatically the in-flow of the cleaner subsequentwaters. To this end it is essential that the first water flowing overthe roof and which carries with it the foreign matter and debris thathas found 1odgment on the roof, shall be diverted to the sewer insteadof being allowed to pass into the cistern. It is also essential that theapparatus shall be normally positioned while idle for divertin the waterinto the sewer.

The objects 0 the invention are accomplished by the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the device with the outer housing omitted;

Fig. 2 is a similar view in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device including the housing, which isshown partially broken away and in section; 1

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section throughthe upper part of thedevice; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the movable chute. 1

Similar characters of reference indicate correspondin parts throughoutthe several views and re erring now to the same:

1 is, a rectangular frame, having crossbars (2) and (3). And (41) is theinner casing that is supported by the frame (1), the frame being induplicate, one upon each side of the casin Within the casing is formed atank (5 the top of which has a slant-mg screen (6) and from the bottomthere extends a nozzle (7) for draining the tank. The casing has also apartition (8) entending vertically therein and which .divides the easinginto two passageways (9) and (10) respectively, the former of whichcommunicates at its lower end with a funnel (11) that is adapted toreceive water gravitating therethrough. The tank (5) is locatedimmediately adjacent the upper end of the passage-way (9), and a movablereceptacle (12) is suspended. beneath the tank and is adapted to receivethe discharge, through the nozzle (7), of the contents thereof. Themovable receptacle (12) is sus ended at the lower ends of the cables (13one upon each side of the casing, and

each of which extends correspondingly over a air of sheaf-wheels (14)that are mounte in brackets (15), the latter being supported upon thecorresponding cross-bars The opposite ends of the cables have attachedthereto a weight (16) which is proportioned so as to counter-balance theweight of the receptacle (12) when but partially filled with water. Itisthe intention that when the receptacle becomes approxi- .85 mately,filled, it will move downwardly by avital force contrary to the oppositeinuence of the weight which is of less specific gravity. The receptacle(12) also has a nozzle (17) at its lower end through which the contentsof the receptacle drains into the funnel (11). An overflow pipe (18) isarranged in the receptacle with its lower end extending through thebottom thereof, it be ing intended that surplus water received in thereceptacle shall be discharged through i the overflow pipe intothefunnel. The nozzle (7) at the bottom of the tank (5) is larger thanthat atthe bottom of the movable receptacle so that the flow through theformer is greater than through the latter.

A receiving spout (19) enters. the casing at the top thereof at a pointdirectly over the tank (,5) and is adapted for connection with thedown-spout (not shown) through which water from the roof of the buildingis received. i

In the upper part'of the casing 1s arranged a movable chute (20) mountedupon Wheels (21) that roll upon tracks (22) secured respectively to theopposite inner faces of thecasing. A transverse bar (23) extends at eachof its ends beyond the sides of the chute, and each end projects througha-horizontal slot (2 1) in the corresponding side of the casing and'hasfixed connection with the cable (13) that extends adjacent thecorresponding wall of the casing upon the exterior thereof. Theintention is that as the cables move, the chute will travel accordinglyin one directionor the other. The chute is constructed with an opening(25) in its top adjacent one end thereof, and is open at its oppositeend (26) so that the flow of water'from the receiving spout may enterthe chute through its opening (25), when the chute is shifted beneathit, 7 and ass through its opposite open end (26) into the passage-way(10) in the casing. The chute has a small opening (27) made through itsbottom beneath its opening (25) through which a portion of waterreceived by the chute from the spout (19) tally into the tank Thepassage-way (l0)*terminates with an extended sleeve (28) at its lowerend and may pass gravithe funnel (11) also has a sleeve extension (29),the former being intended for connection witha cistern (notshown), andthe latter may be connected with a sewer, or left open so that waterpassing therethrough may run to Waste.

Inthe operation of the invention the recelvlng spout is connected withthe downspout lead-lng from the roof; the funnel 1s connected with thesewer; and the sleeve (28) iscoupled with the cistern.

When water commences to flow from the roof through the down-spout andpasses through the receiving-spout, it enters the tank (5,) through thescreen (6) and the tank becomes filled, and any coarse particles offorelgn matter passing over the screen into the passageway (9) togetherwith any superabundance of water is conveyed through the passage-way andfunnel into the sewer.

The flow of water from the tank through 1El1ie)nozzle (7) gravitatesinto the receptacle 2 ceptacle (12) is relieved of the water suppliedthereto through the nozzle (17) in the -bottom thereof, but at a slowerrate than it receives Water from the tank, the surplus being dischargedfrom the receptacle through'the overflowipipe (18).. The discharge-fromthenozzle (17) andtheoverflow-pipe (18) passing directly into the funnelis conveyed together with the water and the latter becomes filled. There passing down the passage-way (9) into the sewer.

When the receptacle (12) becomes approximately filled, it overbalancesthe weight (16) and gravitates to a lower position, thus moving thecables accordingly. The chute (20) having connection with the cablesthereby becomes moved horizontally to a position beneath thereceiving-spout, and the water flowing through the spout becomesdiverted by the chute into the passage-Way (10) and is conveyedtherethrough into the cistern.

The opening (27) in the bottom of the chute admits of a portion of thewater flowing through the chute to pass into the tank and replenish itas it is being drained by the flow through the nozzle in its bottom.

When the down flow of water through the receiving-spout ceases, the tankis thercfore no longer replenished as it is being drained of itscontents. And, when the flow of Water from the tank into the receptacleceases to replenish the receptacle, the latter also becomes drained ofits contents by the flow through the nozzle in its bottom and istherefore overbalanced by the weight (16) and becomes elevated to itsinitial position. The chute (20) attached to the cables connecting thereceptacle and weight also is moved to its initial position out of thepath of the flow between the receiving spout and tank. Therefore it willappear that the apparatus is then left in readiness for therecommencement of its operation.

The apparatus thus described is incased within a housing (30) whichcompletely covers the frame, casing and apparatus connected therewith sothat they are shielded from external interference.

The screen (6) that covers the top of the tank (5) is placed at an angleso as to readily divert foreign solids contained in the water intothepassage-way (9), and a screen (81) is also placed over the top of thereceptacle (12) to prevent the entrance therein of solids that mighttend to clog its discharge opening. 7 1

What I claim is In apparatus of the class described, a frame; a casingmounted in the frame having two passage-ways extending therethrough, atank adjacent one of said passage-ways, thetank having a drain outlet inits bottom, an inlet-spout leading into the casing at a point over thetank; a funnel having communication with the passageway adjacent thetank and extending beneath the latter; a movable receptacle locatedbetween the tank and funnel, having a drain outlet in its bottom andalso an overflow pipe, each of which are adapted to discharge into thefunnel; a screen at the top of the tank; a horizontally movable chuteWithin the casing adapted to be interposed between In testimony whereofI aflix my signature,

the inlet spout and tank to deflect the flow in presence of twoWitnesses. of Water from the in1et-sp0ut into the 0pposite passage-Way;and a counterbalance HENRY ERTEL 5 including a Weight and cables, thelatter Witnesses:

having connection with the movable re- MARIE A. HARTMAN,

ceptacle and also with the chute. MATILLDA METTLER.

imples of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0.

